Commentary on the Politics, History and Culture of the Middle East and Central Asia, by Brian Ulrich

Monday, July 19, 2010

IRGC Leaves South Pars

An interpretation advanced by me among others holds that the growing economic role of Iran's Revolutionary Guards was an important factor contributing to the 2009 electoral coup. The fact that economic role is increasing in any case makes this interesting:

"Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards will not be involved in developing Tehran’s part of the world’s largest gas field, said a senior gas official on Monday.

"'Khatam al-Anbia has pulled out of developing all phases of the South Pars gas field,' Mohammad Hassan Mousavizadeh told reporters. Khatam al-Anbia is an engineering and construction arm of the Guards.

"The Guards, hit by sanctions imposed by the United Nations and the United States, has played a growing economic role in the Islamic Republic since hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad first took office in 2005...

"After Norway’s Kvaerner pulled out, development of phases 15 and 16 of South Pars were handed over to Khatam al-Anbia in 2006.

"In May the group also signed an agreement to develop three other phases of South Pars, the world’s largest reservoir of gas.

"The Security Council resolution passed in June blacklisted 15 firms belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps."

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About Me

I am an Associate Professor in History at Shippensburg University, where I teach courses in Middle Eastern and world history. My two major research areas are the Middle East from the 7th through 10th centuries and the Persian Gulf from ancient times to the present. Nothing on this site represents an official position of Shippensburg University.